NEVER FORGOTTEN.

PART THE SECOND.
CHAPTER XXXII. FERMOR'S NEXT MOVE.

TWO approaching events were now mildly
agitating the society of which Major Carter and
Lady Laura Fermor were members. One was
the marriage of the major with Mrs. Wrigley,
the other, the festival Lady Laura was about to
give. In conversation, the first was despatched
with many sneers. Eyebrows were elevated
together, with the accuracy of drill, as the
subject was introduced. Webster, with his face to
his plate and never sacrificing a mouthful to his
joke, snapped off his sharp petards, and said he
was glad of it, because now their united weight
would break down the old chariot. Another
time he said suddenly, when he was helping
himself to truffles: "Carter and Mrs. Wrigley
to be married! Marry a Mogul plum to a stick
of cinnamon!" Still there were not a few who
growled, and who said "that Carter" was a
something lucky fellow, that he had fallen on his
legs, that he knew (satanically) well where a
good thing was to be got, and how to get it, with
more in the same key of approbation.

No wonder the latter was a little elated, the
world was "going so pleasantly" with him. He
was cleaner and crisper and brighter than before.
The moment of his happiness was not ten days
off. Lady Laura's festival was a day or two
later, which he lamented much. "We shall be
miles away," he said, half sadly, "by that time.
We shall be at Dover, or perhaps at Calais.
I am sorry to miss it; indeed I am." This he
said to Fermor, whom he met in Pall-Mail.
"The world," he went on, "has been going very
well with me; better, indeed, than such an old
sinner as I deserve. But the world is an old
sinner too, my dear Fermor, and I suppose has
some reason."

Fermor was in one of his fits of irritation.
During these latter days he was in a strange
excitement. He had just come from Miss Manuel's,
where he had not been admitted. "Going
pleasantly with you?" he said; "it is more than
I can say. I am crossed and worried at every
turn. Not but that, if I chose, I could be
independent of it, and right myself."

The major laughed good humouredly. "We
poor genteel paupers must take what comes in
our way, and be glad. But, my dear boy, to
hear you railing at the world, with a goose full of
golden eggs at home—ha! ha!—and yourself in
the best society; and that charming piquant
Mrs. Fermor (I am an old fellow, you know,
and may speak), why really——"

Fermor bit his lips several times before he
could speak. "Charming and piquant!" he
said, scornfully. "O, of course."

"I declare I am so grieved," went on the
major, "at having to go, and at not being able
to see her. She will make a genuine sensation.
Mark, I say so—a succès éclatante."

"Sensation! where?" said Fermor, absently.

"In the tableaux at Lady Laura's. That
rough fellow, Romaine, is at work night and
day organising it."

Fermor stopped short in the street and looked
at the other. "Who told you this?" he said.

"The world," said the major. "The town.
Ah! my dear friend, I see! A little secret from
the husband. A surprise on the night itself."

"This is monstrous! this is outrageous," he
muttered.

The major's face suddenly altered. "Forgive
me," he said; "I speak of these things too
lightly. I did not mean it. Seriously, I am
sorry about it. We are old friends, and I am
an 'old boy,' as they call me, so you won't
mind me. But you know these young creatures
are always a little giddy, until they settle down."

"What am I to do?" asked Fermor, walking
on. "I think I shall go straight to that ruffian's
house, and strike him across the face. I should
like to mark him. His insolence is unendurable."

"He is overbearing," said the major, warmly,
"and a low fellow. But, my dear Fermor, you
must not do anything extravagant. There is
really no harm in the business."

"No harm," said Fermor, fiercely, "in being
talked of by the low gossips of the town, and
being pointed at, and shrugged at? I won't
stand it. I am putting up with too much. Everybody
thinks they can treat me as they please. I
tell you, since this marriage of mine, I have never
had a day's comfort, and I believe I have to thank
you and other good friends for it."

"Don't say that," said the major, calmly. "I